JKMDPHD
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Dear BBB, :roll:
Please, please help me with your good advice. I have an extremely unique situation that constantly works against me in my drive to get a residency here in the US. I graduated from a med school in Europe in 1999, and received my ECFMG certificate later that same year. Because of some personal circumstances(money), I was only able to do one senior year observation here in the US (by the way, I am a US citizen). However, 6 weeks after graduation while I was doing research in Europe, I became extremely ill; I was literally on my deathbed within weeks (please, I am very serious). Fortunately, I did survive and made a very good recovery. My doctors here in the US know that I want to complete residency, and I have been medically cleared for that. However, it has taken me 3 years to get to this point. It is very difficult for me to now obtain a residency because directors want to know what I have been doing since graduation, and if they find out that I've been sick, they see me as a liability and refuse to accept me in their respective programs. I see it as that I've literally been on "both sides of the stethoscope" and know exactly what it is like to be both a doctor and a patient. I have even had difficulties with health insurance/disability issues here in the States which have now been resolved. Yet, I hear excuses like, "You need to learn more about the US health care system." Oh, by the way, I've been doing research at a major US university as well as volunteering in a private doctor's office, so I've really immersed myself in this health care system. I don't really understand why directors feel the way they do about my situation. By the way, I know this is the reason for at least one refusal, because one of my classmates was a resident of that particular program and found out that I was refused a position because of that reason. BBB, I am extremely concerned because this year, it will be 5 years since graduation and if I don't get into residency this year, I feel I won't have another chance. I have since renewed my TOEFL and CSA tests which I needed since the scores expired and am taking Step 3 at the end of August. My Step 1 & 2 scores were both 75 which I know is not very good. Nonetheless, I have known others who failed the steps many many times and are indeed in residency, if not already finished. Please give me some advice on what I can do to improve my chances to obtain a residency, any residency. I am very willing to relocate, and am more than driven, so there is no chance that I would bow out before finishing residency. BBB please help! :cry:
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,736
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What specialty are you applying for? The only thing that I can tell you is to review your personal statement, make it perfect and positive. This is where your interviewing skills and your sales skills will need to be perfect.
You mentioned that you were volunteering in a doctors office? Does he round at a teaching hospital? Does he know any program directors? Ask for introductions - can you shadow him on hospital rounds? Can you get an observership/externship at a local teaching hospital?
Not knowing your illness (and it's none of my business, it's yours), is there a liability issue (this is just for you to think about, not answer, bitte)? Is there someway to downplay the time involved with this illness?
With hard work, and a positive outlook, I don't think that it would be impossible.
Good luck
___________________
bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| JKMDPHD
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Dear BBB,
Thank you very much for your quick reply. In response to the points you brought up: before I became ill, I was interested in surgery. I know a surgical residency has been difficult for IMG's to attain in the past, but times have changed. SO much of my experience has been in surgery. However, in speaking with several surgeons I have met here in the States, they suggest that with my medical considerations (it is difficult for me to stand at the OR table for more than 10 or so minutes), my interest and experience, it might be better for me to do an internal medicine residency and then a fellowship in vascular medicine which is really my true love. I agree with them.
Secondly, my research has been in the vascular surgery arena here in the States which is culminating in the publication of a number of papers, with me as the first author of a couple of them. My other work is in a podiatrist's office (which I think works nicely together with my interest in the vascular field in terms of such diseases as diabetic foot, etc.). The doctor is semi-retired, and unfortunately, most of the colleagues he knows are also retired. Therefore, it is difficult for me to make contacts through him. However, I am presently trying to make contacts at local hospitals for observerships/externships, but because many people are on vacation now, I probably won't hear much until September.
Thirdly, in terms of liability with the example I gave in my previous letter, the major concern with the residency director was with any worker's comp case that theorectically may arise. Apparently, my friend told me that 2 years ago, there was a resident who somehow hurt his back, and sued the hospital for workman' comp. I guess they didn't want to take a chance with me even though my problem is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, and I don't have any lawsuits going on. By the way, my illness is not the type that would put patients at risk in any way.
I really appreciate your suggestion about somehow downplaying the three years I was bedridden, I just don't know how. Some directors choose to grill about every year since graduation, and I just don't know how to get around it. I guess I will have to work on my interview skills, and as you say, be very positive and "sell" all my good work. However, should a question arise about those three years, is it ok/sufficient to say that it is a private matter?
BBB, thanks once again for your consideration and advice. It is wonderful to have the ability to "speak" with you. I wish more directors were like you.
Thanks!
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,736
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You wrote: "However, should a question arise about those three years, is it ok/sufficient to say that it is a private matter?"
Well, that's a tough one to answer - it's hard to give that answer to a prospective employer. Check with the physician that you have been working with, he may know best how to answer this question. I don't think it should work against you anymore than a woman taking time off to have a child.
Good luck!
___________________
bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| JKMDPHD
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Dear BBB,
In regards to writing a "perfect" personal statement, could you please give me some advice on HOW to make it perfect. Obviously there should be no grammar or punctuation errors, but what should be emphasized regarding the CONTENT? I know residency directors do not have time to read a novel on each applicant's life, and they should have to, but what specifically should be included to make the applicant stand out from the others? :roll: I know this question is an enormous one, but are there some memorable statements that have impressed you and your staff that maybe we can draw from? I have read your tips regarding interviews, and I am working on perfecting my answers for that, but in the meantime, I need to rework my personal statement. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks once again!
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| JKMDPHD
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Oops! I made a small error. In the last post, I meant to say that residency directors should NOT have to read about an applicant's entire life. Sorry!
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,736
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Just off the top of my head (which is dangerous):
Your personal statement (PS) shouldn't be about how you wanted to be a doctor since you were a child and granddad carried you through the halls of the hospital and everyone respected him. While it may be true, it reads like a "penny novel".
Your PS could have some interesting experiences in medical school - a case that was interesting that was the first one that you figured out on your own and how it affected you. You could write down the challenges about practicing medicine in your home country (I'm assuming that the majority of the readers here are IMG's).
It could describe why you want to practice the kind of medicine that you are applying for.
Just remember that program directors skim a lot of these - and you want your PS to make him pause and think of you as more than just test results.
Good luck!
___________________
bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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